Strong defense leads Renegades to victory over Battlehawks

Field Level Media|published: 04/19/2025, 9:16pm EDT

Mar 29, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Arlington Renegades quarterback Luis Perez (12) throws downfield during the second half against the San Antonio Brahmas at Choctaw Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Ajene Harris returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown and the host Arlington Renegades scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to beat the St. Louis Battlehawks 30-15 on Saturday.

The Renegades (3-1) led 16-15 when Dae Dae Hunter rushed 3 yards for a touchdown with 13:47 left in regulation to give the Renegades a bigger cushion. The two-point conversion pass failed.

Later in the final quarter, Max Duggan drove the Battlehawks (2-2) down the field. On a fourth-down play from the Arlington 3-yard line, he was picked off at the goal line by cornerback Harris, who returned it the length of the field with 33 seconds left. The two-point conversion pass from Luis Perez to JaVonta Payton was successful.

Perez was 17 of 25 for 149 yards, one touchdown pass of 2 yards to Payton and one interception returned 44 yards for a TD by St. Louis' Willie Harvey. Arlington's Chris Odom returned a fumble 39 yards for a score in the first quarter.

Duggan was 8 of 17 for 78 yards and two picks in relief of Battlehawks starter Manny Wilkins, who left the game with an ankle injury. Rodrigo Blankenship was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts of 55, 31 and 53 yards.

--Field Level Media